Shoe-tree accessory



Aug. 17, 1965 c. G. DALEY 3,200,427

SHOE-TREE ACCESSORY Filed March 10, 1964 INVENTOR CA THE/PINE GOAL EV A T TORNEV United States Patent 3,200,427 SHOE-TREE ACCESSORY Catherine Gravett Daley, 25 E. 37th St., New York, NY. Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,903 2 Claims. (Cl. 12--128) This invention relates to improvements in shoe-trees, and more particularly to the type thereof which employs a shaped toe-piece and a flexible shank. It is of course known that toe-pieces of this character are very generally made of wood with a surface finish of varnish or shellac which deteriorates with repeated subjection to the eifects of aciduous perspiration and have a tendency to harbor not only the obnoxious eflluvia inherent thereto, but also become receptive to germs and bacteria such as so-called athletes foot transferred from the interior of the shoe toe, thereby augmenting breeding thereof. While the shoe-tree promotes a certain degree of stretching of the leather and lining of the shoe toe, the non-conformity of the toe-piece of the shoe-tree often results in improper stretching and tends to create ridges both in the sole and in the uppers.

According to the present invention better conformity of the toe-piece of the shoe-tree with the shoe toe cavity is sought and better stretching results attained in utilization of the resultant pressure and form fit of the shoe-tree under influence of the resilient shank thereof.

In carrying out the fundamental objectives of the invention provision of a more attractive and more eifective shoetree is an important consideration.

Fundamentally, the invention proposes a shoe-tree covering to both promote full expansive engagement within thetoe cavity of a shoe and to promote sanitary utilization of such a shoe tree, and by virtue of both of these considerations to provide a more acceptable structure.

A further advantage of the present invention resides in the provision of protection for the finish on the shoe-tree to maintain its surface continuously resistant to marring and to absorption of perspiration and non-porous and unsusceptible to harboring germs and bacteria.

In its broad aspect, the invention provides a removable, washable and replaceable covering for the toe-piece of a shoe-tree, and one adapted to intervene between the toepiece and the cavity wall of the shoe toe.

Also considered broadly, the invention is directed to more sanitary utilization of shoe-trees and proposes inclusion of an anti-contaminant or other desirable chemical composition for such purposes as counteracting objectionable effluvia, and/ or counteracting contamination, bacterial or germ presence and breeding.

More specifically, the invention includes an impregnatable pad in said covering arranged to be applied to a shoetree simultaneously with placement of the covering.

The invention also contemplates placing said pad for counteracting the eflluvia and contaminants in position to also augment the shoe-toe filling characteristic of the toepiece to obtain a better form-fit within the shoe-toe.

A feature of the invention is provision of a pocket for said pad which will permit application of the covering to the shoe-tree without disturbing location of the pad when so doing.

In relation to provision of such a pad the invention provides for retention thereof and quick and easy substitution when desired and in furtherance of the feature also utilizes a single means for both securing the pad from escape from the covering and the covering from escape from the shoetree.

In accomplishment of the foregoing objects and advantages, the invention still comprises simplicity of construction and operation inclusive of replacement of pad and/ or BJWAZ? Patented Aug. 17, 1965 covering, necessity for minimum of stretching, and development of maximum utility and most beneficial results, and at the same time accomplishes an enhancement of the attractiveness of the shoe-tree.

Other objects, advantages, beneficial results and novel structural features will appear to persons skilled in the art to which the invention appertains as the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and by implication from the context. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention in its position of use on a shoe-tree;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention on a shoe-tree before being secured by the ribbon or other tie-means;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the inner member or lining and pocket, before assembly with the outer member or with the shoe-tree; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the outer member and showing the same alone.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates a shoe-tree in general, of the type having a toe-piece I1 and a heel knob 12 with a resilient shank 13 intervening therebetween. According to the present invention, a covering, designated in general by numeral 14 is provided for application at and over the said toe-piece 11. A primary requirement with regard to said covering 14 is that it shall be flexible. It also is longer than the toe-piece 11, and is closed at its forward end and open at its rearward end, the said forward end having a configuration approximately conforming to the shape of the said toe-piece where said covering is juxtaposed to the toe-piece. The covering is longer than said toe-piece 11 so that in use it projects a considerable distance to the rear of said toe-piece, girdling the adjacent portion of shank 13 but with a crosssectional contour large enough to admit the said toe-piece. While there is no visible line of demarcation, but for convenience of reference, the end portion of the covering conforming to the shape of the toe-piece will be termed the stall 15 whereas the extending rearward portion will be termed the gauntlet 16.

Said covering 14 comprises an outer member or casing 17 and an inner member or lining 18 both of which are of approximately the same length one to the other and of approximately corresponding girth so that the lining 18 will fit neatly Within and be coextensive with the casing. Preferably both the casing and the lining are made from fabric, and for decorative purposes, the casing may be a plain, colored, embellished or other desired fabric. The casing as here shown is made from two plies of correspondingly shaped pieces of material stitched at three side next to the margin thereof and then turned insideout so that the loose margins 19 project inwardly between the .broad expanse of what may be termed for convenience the top and bottom areas of the casing, exposing only blind seam 20 at the exterior edges of the casing.

The lining 18 likewise provides two conforming plies of material of approximately equal size and shape to those from which the covering casing are made. A line of stitching 21 around three sides of those two plies of lining of course leave projecting margins 22, but as these will be hidden in use by inclusion of the lining within the casing, there is no need to invert the lining after it is stitched. A third ply 23 of material is provided at the stall end of the lining next to what may 'be termed the bottom ply of the lining. This third ply conforms in contour to the size and shape of the stall portion of the lining and is conveniently secured thereto at its margin by the same line of stitching 21 by which the other two plies are held together. Said third ply 23 may be shorter than the bottom ply of the lining next to which it is juxtaposed, and forms therewith a pocket 24 at the stall portion of the covering. If preferred, the casing 17, lining 18 and ply 23 may all be stitched by the same line of stitching 21, in which event the casing and lining are inseparable.

An absorbent pad 25 of flat character and substantially coextensive with the pocket is inserted therein. This pad serves at least two purposes, one of which is to function as a carrier for a fluid ingredient such as a chemical composition of an anti-contaminant character or odor counteractant or other purposeful impregnation. The pad is readily removable, renewable and replaceable. Obviously, also, the lining is removable from the casing, either or both may be washed and all reassembled with the greatest of ease and convenience. A second purpose of said pad 25 is to obtain better conformity of the toepiece to the toe cavity of the shoe within which it is employed. The pad is located at the bottom of the toe-piece and intervenes between the same and the shoe sole, distributing the pressure over a large area of the shoe sole and avoiding creation of indentations and ridges in the shoe and at the same time augmenting the pressure applied by the toe-piece against the shoe upper.

After the pad 25 has been inserted in pocket 24 and the lining 18 inserted into the casing 17, the toe-piece 11 is inserted between the two plies of the lining with the shank 13 of the shoe-tree projecting from the open end of the assembled covering 14. The open end of the said covering is folded inwardly forming an inner cuff 26 of both the lining and casing materials and confining the raw edges thereof well toward the interior of the lining and exposing only a doubled terminal 27 at the open end of the gauntlet 16. The gauntlet portion is then manually shirred and tied with a ribbon 28 thereby completely retaining the several parts assembled on the shoe-tree but in a manner rendering removal and replacement readily accomplished. The lining 18 is a fabric permeable to the effervescence from or fluid of the impregnating fluid in the pad 25, and the casing 17 is correspondingly permeable to enable the fluid to be effective on the interior surface of the shoe within which the shoe-tree is used.

I claim:

1. A sanitary shoe tree including a toe-piece and a flexible cover surrounding said toe-piece; said cover comprising a casing having a stall portion, a gauntlet portion formed as a continuation of said stall portion and an open end remote from the stall portion; a flexible lining in said casing having a stall portion, a gauntlet portion and an open end remote from the stall portion and conforming substantially in size, shape and length to the easing; means for collapsing the open ends of said casing and lining to retain said cover on said toe-piece; a flexible pocket portion interposed between the stall portion of said casing and the stall portion of said lining; an impregnatable pad in said pocket; effervescent sanitary means impregnated in said pad; said casing and lining being pervious to the effervescence from said sanitary means.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gauntlet portions of both the casing and lining projeet longitudinally beyond said pocket and pad and are mutually turned inwardly at said open ends thereof to a location within said lining of the gauntlet and thereby provide an internal cuff directed toward said stall portions, said cuff having a location spaced longitudinal entirely beyond said pocket and pad.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 896,536 8/08 Hayden 12-1142 1,886,464 11/32 Bright 150-526 2,173,528 9/39 Beale 12-128 X 2,197,977 4/40 Halpin 150-526 X 2,670,482 3/54 Roman 12-128 2,737,394 3/56 Abel 150-526 X 3,023,795 3/62 Denkerk 150-526 3,131,036 4/64 Hirschberg 12-128 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,082,831 6/60 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SANITARY SHOE TREE INCLUDING A TOE-PIECE AND A FLEXIBLE COVER SURROUNDING SAID TOE-PIECE; SAID COVER COMPRISING A CASING HAVING A STALL PORTION, A GAUNTLET PORTION FORMED AS A CONTINUATION OF SAID STALL PORTION AND AN OPEN END REMOTE FROM THE STALL PORTION; A FLEXIBLE LINING IN SAID CASING HAVING A STALL PORTION, A GAUNTLET PORTION AND AN OPEN END REMOTE FROM THE STALL PORTION AND CONFORMING SUBSTANTIALLY IN SIZE, SHAPE AND LENGTH TO THE CASING; MEANS FOR COLLAPSING THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID CASING AND LINING TO RETAIN SAID COVER ON SAID TOE-PIECE; A FLEXIBLE POCKET PORTION INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE STALL PORTION OF SAID CASING AND THE STALL PORTION OF SAID LINING; AN IMPREGNATABLE PAD IN SAID POCKET; EFFERVESCENT SANITARY MEANS IMPREGNATED IN SAID PAD; SAID CASING AND LINING BEING PERVIOUS TO THE EFFERVESCENCE FROM SAID SANITARY MEANS. 